The Los Angeles Dodgers are officially staring down a season-high five-game losing streak, a brutal skid that started with Tarik Skubal’s much-hyped debut after a controversial deadline deal. They dropped their Tuesday game to the playoff-caliber Cubs, 5-1, leaving their 69-45 record feeling a lot heavier than it should.
Skubal Showed Up, But the Luck Didn’t
Skubal took the loss, but let’s be real, you can’t pin this one squarely on him. The dude threw six innings, giving up just two earned runs on four hits, punched out six batters, and only walked two. He came out firing, freezing Pete Crow-Armstrong for his first strikeout as a Dodger. Sure, he seemed to be fighting his breaking stuff early, but he overpowered hitters and got some solid outfield defense behind him.
The first run was a no-doubter, a solo shot from Dansby Swanson, his 17th of the year. Conditions were ripe for homers, so you just tip your cap there. The second run, though, that’s where the frustration really sets in. Skubal started the sixth by striking out Crow-Armstrong again before Seiya Suzuki drew a walk. Then Alex Bregman hit a deep fly to right that Kyle Tucker missed, whiffing on what “a lot of MLB right fielders make” even if it wasn’t an error. With runners on second and third, Skubal got two straight grounders. One resulted in Suzuki being thrown out at home, but the next was an absurdly high bounce that got over Skubal’s head for an infield hit, plating the go-ahead run. Skubal kept it together, allowing only two hard-hit balls all night,Swanson’s homer and Bregman’s double,and escaped a jam in the third, nearly doing it again in the sixth. Not dominant, but solid for a debut, right?
Where Was the Offense?
This is where the Dodgers truly fell apart. The biggest problem for Skubal wasn’t his arm, it was the absolute lack of offensive support. Kyle Tucker homered in the second, and that was it for the Dodgers while Skubal was on the mound. Cubs starter Javier Assad navigated traffic and looked sharp, getting two crucial double plays from his excellent infield.
The Cubs’ bats, meanwhile, kept coming alive. After taking the lead, they tacked on two more in the seventh. Dansby Swanson doubled, Crow-Armstrong singled him home, then stole second before Seiya Suzuki drove him in. Nico Hoerner then went deep, putting the final run on the board. The Cubs’ bullpen, including new acquisition Ryan Zeferjahn, locked it down, holding the Dodgers’ offense completely in check for a spotless eighth. This isn’t just a loss, it’s a statement: the Dodgers’ offense went silent.
Five straight losses, with the last one highlighting a debut pitcher’s solid effort overshadowed by a quiet offense and a bit of bad luck. The Dodgers need to find their rhythm, and fast, because this season-high skid isn’t just a blip, it’s a concerning trend for a team that’s supposed to be rolling. They have to stop this slide ASAP.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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